Saturday, February 23, 2008

Reporters' Notebooks

Brent Schrotenboer, San Diego Union-Tribune: A troubling financial picture at San Diego State, where average home attendance tumbled to 17,868 and donations to athletics continued a downward trend. A contract extension for Chuck Long, who has three years remaining on his current deal, has been tabled until 2009.

Brian Mine, San Luis Obispo Tribune: From the creampuff scheduling department: Wisconsin will close the 2008 regular season with a home game against feared Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. "Cal Poly clearly is a talented football team and I’m appreciative of their willingness to come to Madison," Badger coach Bret Bielema said. Thanks to Kevin of We Are Penn State.

Suzanne Halliburton, Austin American-Statesman: Yes, spring football has started. Texas went through its first drills Friday and the Longhorns are indicating that they plan to use more trickery on offense.

David Scott, Charlotte Observer: North Carolina Charlotte officials are lobbying to start a football program. The plan calls for the 49ers to start play in I-AA and then moved to I-A.

Brandon George, Dallas Morning News: Oklahoma will have eight wins reinstated from the 2005 season after an NCAA appeals committee partially overturned a ruling in the infractions case involving former quarterback Rhett Bomar.

Dennis Dodd, CBS Sports: Connecticut's Randy Edsall, a member of the Football Rules Committee, said: "We, as coaches, are willing to do some things to speed up the pace of play because we understand the TV games are a little bit longer. We also have to have the cooperation of the TV people." Thanks to Get the Picture.

Paul Finebaum, Mobile Press-Register: Do coaches still build character? Given recent developments in the Southeastern Conference, the answer is no.

Chris Nelsen, Detroit Free Press: Former Michigan receiver Adrian Arrington, who left a year early, said, "If Lloyd Carr came back, I probably would have stayed."